in me. He at once set to work to
help me, but months passed away ere the great wound made by the tomahawk
healed up.

"This great scar remains with me to this day, and reminds me of that
fierce fight, and tells of how terrible in those days were some of the
doings of our people."

Three Boys in the Wild North Land--by Egerton Ryerson Young

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

"FAIR WIND!"--FISH SPEARING BY TORCHLIGHT--THE SHINING EYES--DEATH OF
THE DEER--ABUNDANCE OF GAME--ADDITIONAL EXCURSIONS--TRADITION OF
NANAHBOOZOO AND THE FLOOD--WAS NANAHBOOZOO NOAH?

The boys listened with absorbing interest to this thrilling story. The
camp fire had partly burned down and the stars had come out in their
splendour, but none seemed to observe these things.

The dramatic power with which Pukumakun accompanied his narrative, his
genuine sorrow at the tragic death of his mother, and then his fierce
excitement as he described the last long race and its end, simply
fascinated our young friends, and they declared that it was the most
wonderful story they had ever heard.

Of course the bright tartan shirt, with some other gifts, was handed
over, and then all wrapped themselves in their blankets and lay down on
the rocks to sleep.

During the night the strong south wind veered around to the north-east,
and the alert Indians in charge were quick to observe the change. Soon
the cry of "Meyoo nootin!" ("Fair wind!") was heard, and, in a time so
brief that it would have seemed almost incredible to persons who have
not witnessed it, the boats were afloat, the masts stepped, the sails
hoisted, and the journey, so long delayed, was gladly resumed. In the
earliest dawn the last of the sails were seen by Mr Ross and our
friends to be sinking below the horizon as they sped along toward the
mouth of the great Saskatchewan. For the rest of the day they were
quite lonesome after the departure of the brigade, and, as the wind was
in a bad quarter for them, they decided to rest during the day and then
go out spearing fish during the coming night. The Indians were set to
work preparing the inflammable torches which would be necessary for
their success. These were made of various things. The best were of the
fine resinous strips of spruce or balsam, taken from those parts that
are saturated with the resinous gum. They were secured in handles which
prevented the hot melted pitch from running down and burning the hands
of those who held them. Other